ref. 1407 / 1486 / 1417

Mercier Frères

Cabinet-makers
(Actives since 1867)
(attributed to)

An Important Empire Style Dining Room

France
Circa 1895

An Empire style Retour d’Egypte dining room in plum-pudding mahogany, finely decorated with gilded bronze mounts, composed of:

  • – A mahogany Table ornated on the belt with beautiful putti, laurel leaves, stars and palmettes motifs gilded bronze mount.
    The table plate is supported by a console-shaped four-flap center foot, ornated with gilded bronze palmettes motifs and frame, the set resting on four leaf-motif rounded feet.

Height: 77cm (30,3 in.); Width: 129 cm (50,8 in.); Length: 119 cm (46,8 in.)
Max. length with the 4 extensions: 327 cm (128,7 in.)
Each extension: 129 x 52 cm (50,8 x 20,5 in.)

  • A credence mahogany Sideboard composed of:
    Two main panels and two recesses on the lower part, as well as four drawers on the belt, covered by a vert de mer marble top.
    The set is ornated with finely chiselled and gilded bronze winged lions and sphinxes as well as laurel crowns.

Height: 163 cm (64,2 in.); Length: 145 cm (57,1 in.); Width: 45 cm (17,7 in.)

  • A two-body mahogany Buffet, composed of:
    Two main panels and two recesses on the lower part, as well as four drawers on the belt, covered by a sea green marble table plate.
    The upper part includes two panels and two doors forming a display case.
    The set is ornated with finely chiselled and gilded bronze winged lions, sphinxes and victories as well as laurel crowns.

Height: 180 cm (70,9 in.); Length: 161 cm (19,7 in.); Width: 55 cm (21,6 in.)

  • A series of ten Chairs and two Armchairs in mahogany with square backs, ornated with finely chiselled and gilded bronze palmettes, rosettes, ring-shaped sabots and lion feet. Nicely covered with a black diamond shapes on burgundy background horsehair garnish.
Biography

Claude Mercier (born in 1803) installed in Paris, 15 rue Beautreillis in 1828, then moved to 100 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, where the firm has been maintained until present days. As soon as 1856, the company became Mercier Père et fils then, in 1863 Mercier fils aîné, and finally in 1867, Mercier Frères, still current name. Mercier was in 1855 supplier of the royal Court of Spain. His house quickly became welknown and participated from 1844 in all art exhibitions. At the French Industry Products Exhibition held in Paris in 1844, he was awarded an « mention honorable » for his carved rosewood furniture and received a bronze medal at the 1849 London fair. In 1852, he won a second-class medal. At the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition, Mercier showed a wardrobe, a canopy bed as well as an ebony table. At the Exposition of the Union Centrale des Beaux-Arts, the Mercier brothers presented, as their masterpiece, a walnut buffet, which won a medal. At the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition, they sent ebony furniture for bedrooms and Louis XVI style tables. Claude Mercier seems to have stamped his works very exceptionally (D. Ledoux-Lebard, Les ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les éditions de l’Amateur, Paris, 1984, pp. 478-9).


Bibliography

D. Ledoux-Lebard, Les ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les éditions de l’Amateur, Paris, 1984, pp. 478-9

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